New solar technology compels Somersworth residents to “keep up with the Joneses”

It’s not often that peer pressure is thought of in positive terms. But that’s exactly what helped put matching alternative energy systems on two neighboring Somersworth homes.

Back in March, town resident Tim Sullivan was contacted by friend and former colleague Jack Bingham, owner of the nearby SEA Solar Store and one of the region’s foremost alternative green energy purveyors. Bingham, recognizing his old friend’s long-held interest in incorporating solar on his own property, told him about a revolutionary new technology.

It’s called the SECUSOL Smart Drainback Technology System – SECUSOL, for short. Manufactured by German-based Wagner & Co. and touting the tagline “Less Components – Reduced Cost – One Day Installation,” SECUSOL has for years been a go-to technology in Europe. Now, thanks to outfits like SEA, the technology is finally finding its niche stateside.

In Sullivan, Bingham had the perfect candidate for testing the innovative system.

“We wanted a system we could hand off with the home when the time came,” recalls Sullivan, a graphic designer who often works out of his home office. “We always knew we had a great spot for solar technology, so when Jack told us about the Wagner SECUSOL system, we were on board pretty quickly.”

How does SECUSOL work? Like most solar hot water systems, it starts with a panel or collector – two to be exact – typically on the roof. During operation, a “solar liquid” flows from the heat exchanger (located in the tank) through the collectors, while air is transferred to the upper part of the heat exchanger. Once the tank reaches its “energy maximum”, the system shuts off automatically.

For Sullivan, the system proved a welcome relief from watching money evaporate summer after summer.

“We just got tired of every summer having to turn the furnace on to heat up water for the house,” he recalls. “So in our minds the second we were getting hot water from the SECUSOL, it had already started paying for itself.”

Third Annual Pizza-Tasting Event Benefits Children's Museum on 11/5/2011!

On Saturday, November 5, pizza aficionados of all ages can cast their votes for best regional pizza restaurants at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s third annual PizzaFest and Holiday Auction. The event will be held from 5-8 pm at the Children’s Museum of NH in Dover and is generously sponsored by D.F. Richard. Attendees will be able to sample different varieties of pizza from local purveyors, then vote for their favorites. All proceeds benefit the museum’s innovative education and outreach programs.
 
Seacoast area pizza restaurants will be serving up both cheese and specialty pizzas for guests to sample and judge in the categories of Kids’ Choice Cheese and Grown-Ups’ Choice.  A judging panel will crown the Judges’ Pick for Best Pizza, Best Crust and Most Creative Toppings. This year’s judging panel will include a student from the Culinary Arts program at the Regional Career Technical Center at Dover High School.
 
Eight pizza restaurants are already confirmed for this year’s event: Dover House of Pizza, Kendall Pond II, La Festa Brick & Brew Pizzeria, Papa Gino’s, River Bend Pizza & Subs, Roger’s Restaurant, Smiley’s, and Uno’s Chicago Grill.
 
In addition to all the pizza-tasting, there will be activities for children including games, interactive exploration of exhibits and face painting. This event is family friendly but adults on their own are also welcome, as this is a great opportunity to start holiday shopping. 

Smart Meters Make Smarter Consumers

Almost everything we do in our homes requires electricity: we brew coffee before work, watch our favorite TV shows, throw the dinner dishes in the dishwasher and browse the internet – usually at the same times everyday. Those daily routines can make us feel like we live in our own little worlds, so it’s easy to forget that everyone else on the street is more than likely using electricity in those same ways at those same times.

And that oversight costs everyone money.

Electricity is more expensive during peak hours, the times during the day that people tend to use more electricity, because the sudden jump in energy use puts a greater strain on the power grid.

Central Maine Power (CMP) began an initiative earlier this spring to not only reduce the overall cost of supplying energy to customers, but to help those customers use their energy more responsibly.

The plan involves replacing all the current analog meters on peoples’ homes with new Smart Meters. These wireless meters will not only eliminate the need for a meter reader to go door-to-door, but will allow customers to access their power consumption in real time.

Zero Waste Portsmouth to roll out zero waste stations Tuesday

Tuesday marked the official launch of the Downtown Portsmouth Zero Waste Project, a community-wide effort to establish the city's first public recycling program.

The day’s events centered around the placement of four colorful recycling stations throughout the downtown area, along with a fifth in Prescott Park.

The initiative's official rollout was followed by a brief gathering and ribbon cutting in Market Square at approximately 6:00pm. Afterwards, attendees wereinvited to join the Zero Waste Portsmouth team for a celebration at the nearby Portsmouth Brewery.

A strategic partnership of the Islington Creek Neighborhood Association, Tim Gaudreau Studios, and EcoMovement Consulting and Hauling, Zero Waste Portsmouth has over the last two years spearheaded efforts in and around Portsmouth to reduce the amount of waste being dumped into Rochester’s Turnkey landfill through creative recycling and composting alternatives.

Karina Quintans, Zero Waste’s Director says the project began with a simple brainstorming session amongst neighbors, all of whom harbored a keen interest in helping speed up Portsmouth’s push towards sustainability. By the end, it had become clear that “zero waste” sat atop the list of priorities .

Specifically, the group envisioned recycling stations – placed throughout the town – as eye-catching as they were practical. A few months later, during a green homes tour, Quintans met Tim Gaudreau, a self-proclaimed “eco-artist” and one of the Green Alliance’s first ever Business Partners. Needless to say, Quintans had found the ideal partner for the job.

“It was the perfect alignment,” recalls Quintans. “It was obvious that Tim’s passion for art and the environment would help transform the project into something unique.”

Portsmouth home a Green Alliance stronghold

Being Green Alliance (GA) members, Chris & Alison Pyott knew they wanted to incorporate as many local and sustainable features as possible when they began renovating their mid 19th century carriage house earlier this year.

The Pyotts, who live in Portsmouth, chose the Middle Street abode in 1998 for its unique space, compact size, affordability and location. But after nearly 13 years, even the most beloved home will tend to present its fair share of overhaul demands.

Five rounds of architectural drawings and one near addition ground-breaking later, the couple finally decided that more space wasn’t nearly as important as the right space, and the freedom it provided.

“Over the years we’ve really become accustomed to the flexibility our home provides,” Says Chris Pyott. “We love to travel, we love to enjoy life, and we just decided to stick with what was most important to us and refresh it in a responsible way.”

Their efforts started with a comprehensive Energy Audit from Henningsen Home Inspections – a Green Alliance partnering business – to help guide their remodeling decisions. Much to their pleasant surprise, the Pyotts were relieved to learn that the 25 year old casement windows were still efficient, saving them money that they could then spend on other cosmetic improvements.

For their interior finishes, the couple solicited the help of yet another Green Alliance business in Greenovations, a catch-all store for green building and remodeling which was launched last year. It was there that the couple met owner Christopher Ring, who helped them with many decisions throughout the renovation process.

“Right away I saw their commitment and desire to be as sustainable and local as possible, so I tried to help them achieve both of those goals,” recalls Ring. “I did my best to support this direction, even if it meant losing out on a sale.”

Ring helped the couple purchase an all natural, non-toxic wool carpet and pad for the carriage home’s bedrooms. Soon afterwards, the conversation turned to flooring options for the open concept first floor. As it turns out, Ring had for months been a distributor for Jewett Farms & Co., the Newburyport-based purveyor of sustainable fine wood flooring and cabinetry and – you guessed it – another GA partnering business.

Awesome October discount for Green Cardholders at the new ReStore during October!

It wouldn't be a proper store (re)opening without a big bone thrown to Green Alliance member, would it?

That's the philosophy of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore general manager Doug Wiley as he diligently prepares ReStore's beautiful, spacious new location in Newington. To get things off on the right foot, and to move some of the great merchandise they're bringing, Doug is making a 15% discount available to all Green Cardholders during October!

A program of Southeast New Hampshire (SENH) Habitat for Humanity, the ReStore supplies overstocked, discontinued, new and used building materials donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and individuals. These donated items are sold to the public or used in construction of Habitat houses. And many of these items are in fabulous condition, meaning you're getting pre-owned materials (including cabinets, doors, windows, flooring, sinks, and more) at incredibly low prices once you factor in the Green Alliance discount! And if you're not already a Green Alliance member, click here to join and save at ReStore and 90 other green businesses across the region!

Total proceeds from this store benefit SENH Habitat for Humanity’s mission to provide safe, decent, affordable, and energy-efficient housing to hard-working, low-income families within our community.